How big are the shiners this year?

[Dale_Gribble]

Any bait shops got the nice juicy ones for a change or are they still chrome fatheads?

[The Hex]

The ones Ive come across are mainly walleye shiners with a couple decent ones mixed in.

[TruthWalleyes]

I'm going to guess at chrome fatheads! I got lucky for one month this year (Feb) where I found monster shiners...that actually survived through an ice fishing trip or two. Check out the bait shop south of Waterville on hwy 13. They had monsters last year. I'll be checking in with them more frequently this year, expecting the same.

I tip-up and jigged one day with two friends, i ended up using over $35 in shiners...but the northerns and bass were destroying them! Had to of ice'd over 50 fish that day. They were such big and tough shiners that we could sometimes catch two fish with them...darn near unheard of!

I'm usually disappointed with the size of the fatheads with most bait shops!

[live4chrome]

you guys in the cities got it tough for shiners. We can get them up north for about 25 for 6$

[Acemac]

we got it bad for everything down here nothign better then paying 15 bucks for [PoorWordUsage] half dead bait. I think I may by bulk bait next time I am up north and keep it kicking all winter.

[ThunderLund78]

For those of us in Southern MN. There's a Shiner Hatchery in St. Thomas MN (Little town near Le Seuer). Last I heard, you can buy them there in bulk for a pretty good price. Much easier to keep them alive in the winter if you want buy a bunch of 'em--just gotta keep the water clean and unfrozen. There's usually a few fliers around the business in town. If I see one I'll try to post the number...

[Dale_Gribble]

I think I may by bulk bait next time I am up north and keep it kicking all winter.

im guessing the pike would gobble up big shiners too fast for you to have em all winter.